Newcomer Rafe catches Sienna’s eye (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Hollyoaks has confirmed that Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) will be at the centre of a huge storyline in the coming weeks, with actor Chris Gordon set to join the show.

Chris, best known for his role in The Crown, where he played the Duke Of Edinburgh’s valet, will join the Channel 4 soap as Rafe, who is the Earl of Dee and a member of the nobility.

What exactly brings Rafe to the eponymous village remains to be seen, but actor Chris promised ‘fireworks’ when his character collides with Sienna.

‘Working with Anna has been an utter joy,’ he told Metro.co.uk. ‘Not only as an actor but as a person too.

‘Sienna’s journey collides with Rafe and there’s… well, Fireworks. [He’s] Not the usual man around town… The mystery and complexity of a road less travelled is something I’m really looking forward to playing and sharing with the fans.’

Consider us incredibly intrigued.

Anna, who plays Sienna, also told us that the team are so ‘excited’ to have Chris join the show, branding him a ‘wonderful actor’.

Sienna and Rafe will attend the races in upcoming scenes (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Just what brings Rafe to the village? (Picture: Lime Pictures)

‘He’s bringing something completely new to the village with Rafe,’ she said. ‘We are already having so much fun with this storyline, and I cannot wait for the audience to meet our suave and mysterious Rafe. Chris is an absolute dream to work with.

‘It looks like an exciting year ahead.’

Rafe will cross paths with Sienna in the coming weeks, and a number of Hollyoaks’ cast members, including Anna, Chris and Matthew James Bailey – who plays Ethan Williams – filmed scenes on-location at the Chester Races earlier this week.

Is Sienna set to cheat on Ethan with Rafe? (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Pictures of the shoot reveal Sienna and Ethan, all dressed up to the nines, in the company of Rafe. But just what is set to unfold?

What’s more, the bigger question is: is Sienna and Rafe’s connection a romantic one? If so, does this spell the end of Sienna and Ethan’s relationship?

Say it ain’t so!

Will Ethan lose his one true love to Rafe? (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Hollyoaks boss Lucy Allan previously teased trouble in paradise for the much-loved couple, promising that a new face would be the one who comes between them.

‘It won’t be Warren that comes between Ethan and Sienna this time,’ Lucy told us. ‘It will be a new character coming into the village, with explosive consequences.’

Sounding more and more like Rafe to us, right? Our hearts are breaking for Ethan already.

Rafe and Sienna hit it off – but just what will this partnership bring with it? (Picture: Lime Pictures)

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Discussing joining the show, Chris said: ‘Joining the team at Hollyoaks feels a bit like meeting the family of a partner you really like.

‘A little bit intimidating, but also very fulfilling. There’s a real closeness throughout the departments and I’ve been welcomed into the fold with grace.

Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 7pm on E4, with first look episodes streaming daily on All4.

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Trouble in paradise for Sienna and Ethan has a suave newcomer catches the former’s eye.